Service Opportunities

Did You Know?

The Extra Miles

After months of planning, the young men of the Barnstaple Branch, Plymouth England Stake, left for their camp three days early. No, they didn’t read their calendars wrong. They decided that, instead of taking the usual car ride, they and their Young Men president would walk the 65 miles (105 km) to camp in stormy weather. The hike took the young men along roads, paths, and rugged Dartmoor countryside.

The trek was such a success that the stalwart hikers decided to do it again some months later. This time they walked the 130 miles (209 km) from Young Men’s camp in Redruth, arriving home in Bideford six days later. Needless to say, most of the young men have completed the Duty to God hiking requirements.

It Happened in September

22 September 1827:Joseph Smith received the gold plates from the angel Moroni.

12 September 1830: Elmina Shepard Taylor, the first president of the Young Women’s Mutual Improvement Association, was born in New York.

30 September 1949: General conference was broadcast on television for the first time.

4 September 1950: The first early-morning seminary was organized.

27 September 1976: President Spencer W. Kimball dedicated the first buildings at the Provo Missionary Training Center.

Follow the Prophets

The challenges you face have been addressed by the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. The next time you need guidance, look to them for help. You can find their counsel given at general conference and in the Church magazines at www.lds.org. Just click on the world map in the upper right corner of the home page. Then select a language.

Photograph courtesy of the Barnstaple Branch; conference photograph of President George Albert Smith and photograph of Elmina Shepard Taylor courtesy of LDS Church Archives; photograph of receiving the gold plates by Eldon K. Linschoten, from The Restoration of the Priesthood